3D-1: NCI Training Program: Supporting Career Development of Young Cancer Researchers Through Innovation

Ming Lei
Center for Cancer Training and Cancer Training Branch, National Cancer Institute, Rockville, MD, USA

Abstract: The National Cancer Institute (NCI) provides funding, in the forms of fellowships, research career development (K) awards, and Institutional training grants, to support training and career development of young scientists training in cancer research at institutions nationwide. Our goal is to help nurture the careers of next-generation cancer researchers of the nation and develop the most competitive future research workforce in NCI mission areas including cancer biology, prevention, control, diagnosis and treatment, behavioral and population sciences, as well as translational and patient oriented research. I will provide an overview of the specific objectives and basic features of these funding mechanisms to help participants of the conference better understand and more effectively utilize these funding opportunities in the future. I will also discuss our initiatives, and the rationales behind them, in updating the training grant program continually in order to better meet the needs of trainees and the research workforce market in the rapidly changing landscape of biomedical research. Learning Objectives: As a result of participating in this activity, the participant will be able to (1) understand the objectives and basic features of NCI grant program on training, (2) more effectively utilize these funding opportunities to help young researchers, and (3) gain insights on NCI’s effort in improving its grant program on training. References: JL Mason, E Johnston, S Berndt, K Segal, M Lei, & JS Wiest, 2016, Lab and Skills Gap Analysis of the Biomedical Research Workforce, The FASEB Journal (Published online before print on April 13, 2016, doi:10.1096fj.201500067R). JL Mason, M. Lei, JM FaupelBadger, EP Ginsburg, YR Seger, L DiJoseph, JD Schnell & JS Wiest, 2013, Outcome Evaluation of the National Cancer Institute Career Development Awards Program, Journal of Cancer Education, 28:9-17.

3D-2: The NCI R25 Cancer Research Education Grants Program

Jeannette F. Korczak
Cancer Training Branch, National Cancer Institute, Rockville, MD, USA

Abstract: The NCI R25 Cancer Research Education Grants Program provides support for educational activities that are critically important to the NCI mission and the cancer education community. It complements the NCI training and research grant portfolios and affords education opportunities in cancer research to a large number of students, researchers, and health professionals, including those from underrepresented populations, and also provides a means to bridge curricular gaps in formal degree programs. The NCI Cancer Training Branch supports R25 programs through three Funding Opportunity Announcements (FOAs), all of which have the goal of complementing and/or enhancing the training of a workforce to meet the nation’s biomedical, behavioral, and clinical research needs. Each FOA supports a different type of activity: curriculum or methods development (PAR-15-150); courses for skills development (PAR-15-151); or research experiences (PAR-15-152). In addition, the NCI Diversity Training Branch supports two Diversity R25 FOAs that target participants from underrepresented populations, with the goal of enhancing the diversity of the biomedical, behavioral, and clinical research workforce; PAR-16-138 supports research experiences, and PAR-16-139 funds courses for skills development. I will compare and contrast the five NCI R25 FOAs with regard to the types of projects each supports, the expected qualifications of the principal investigator(s), the educational backgrounds and career stages of the intended participants, the maximum award project periods and budgets, and the allowable budgetary components. Finally, I will describe our experience managing the R25 FOAs, including numbers of applications received, success rates, and lessons learned. Learning Objectives: As a result of participating in this activity, the participant will be able to (1) understand the type of project that each R25 FOA supports, (2) understand the intended group of participants for each R25 FOA, (3) and understand the allowable costs that are supported by each R25 FOA. References: N/A